November 11, 2016 from Prism Book Group
From the Back cover:
When nobody loves you, you have nothing to lose.
Lily Masters is not getting involved with any fake job
scheme covering a sex trafficking operation supposedly cooked up by her
stepbrother, prison guard Art Townsend. Hoping to get help at a friend’s place
deep in the woods of northern Wisconsin before a blizzard, Lily loses her way.
At first, she doesn’t realize how fortunate she is to be found by Cam Taylor, a
poetry-spouting former lit professor. Cam has his own reasons to hide while
writing a biography of his Civil Rights activist grandparents and accidentally
stirs up a cold case murder involving a potential Supreme Court judge. When
trouble follows, either of them is the likely target.
Beneath every story is layer upon layer of trust and lies.
Who can they believe when things go from surreal to devastating?
ISBN-13:978-1-943104-50-5
The underlying theme of UnderStory is prejudice—how we look and perceive others and
judge them and ourselves by the way they look, whether we can see the physical
or emotional scars. Lily Masters is born with a genetic condition, Poland’s syndrome,
which colors her world, makes her feel unloved and unwanted, and although she’s
learned to hide her condition and feelings, get a good job and function in
public, she can never again connect with someone who would learn about her
physical problem and reject her. When Lily is rescued by a biracial Literature
professor, Cam Taylor, who is dealing with prejudice on so many levels, and
they are stranded together, she begins to learn not to judge people and
situations by what others say or even by her own standards. Lily and Cam’s
journeys are about learning that shame is a reaction they choose based on
others’ perceptions and standards, not something they have to accept. Learning
to free herself from the bonds of self-loathing, Lily realizes how to be strong
and fight for her family and how to accept love as well as give it. Cam comes
to a peaceful place as he learns to see the world through what is, not through
what he anticipates.
Endorsements sample:
Lisa
Lickel weaves together a masterful tale of intrigue and romance, and the multilayers of complexity will leave the reader
turning the pages. The characters are well-developed, and overarching themes
involving racism and prejudice will resonate with the reader. The story takes
place in the Midwest—in a small town that harbors a big secret—perhaps more
common than anyone dares to imagine. UnderStory is one of those rare books that’s not only a
great read but makes a statement about what’s most important—in the midst of
depravity, unfairness, and greed.
—Lorilyn
Roberts, award-winning author and founder of the John 3:16 Marketing Network
Drugs,
human trafficking, and corruption all play their part in Lisa Lickel’s
atmospheric thriller, UnderStory, but
it’s the characters and the love story you’ll remember most. In some ways, the
book reminded me of the movie Fargo—quirky
locals, investigators facing not only ruthless criminals but also a frozen
winter landscape of snow and ice in an isolated far north town. The blizzard is
the catalyst that brings together two emotionally damaged strangers when Cam
finds the mysterious Lily unconscious near his isolated cabin. When he brings
her inside, he becomes involved in both love and dangers he never expected when
he hid himself away in the woods.
—Robin
Johns Grant, author of Summer’s Winter.
Here's an Excerpt
Cam had borrowed Lily’s car to get home last night. As he
drove back into Barter Valley in the morning, slipping around on the car’s bald
tires, for his appointment with Minerva Thorsten, he kept a running commentary
of his current situation spiraling in his head. Stone cold stupid. This whole
deal with him and the Internet and research was a separate thing going down
from the case Forbes was on, just like the man said. Cam could not believe him
at first.
Uncle Sam was monitoring his personal business. But Cam
had beaten a mess before. He’d been acquitted. He wasn’t on any sex-offender
registry or felon watch-list. He didn’t think so, anyway. How ripped from the
headlines was that? “Illegal Wire Tapping in Small Town Library.” “Free Speech
Rights Stomped Again.” “Sex Trafficking Stopped.” All of Matt’s dreams would
come true when he broke both stories. And if Matt was right, this Minerva was
the perfect legal representation for a person whose constitutional rights were
being violated.
He parked, pulled up his hood and jumped frozen waist-high
piles of snow to get to the newspaper office. At least the weather was
changing. The high temp might make zero today. The dogs would be all right.
They’d stay together, keep warm. He’d water them later. What day was it? Logan
possibly had his truck ready. He caught a glimpse of a shadow on the walk, the
prickle that something was in his way. He stopped and looked up. And swallowed.
“Hi, there, Ole. What’s happening?”
Ole took off his gloves and cracked his knuckles. He
slowly pulled the gloves back on. “Lily isn’t like the other girls around here.
She sorta got a little stuck-up from living in the cities, but she’s still a
nice girl.”
After the big guy’s little display of assumed prowess, Cam
decided to refrain from eye-rolling, sighing, or any other possibly
misunderstood gesture of superiority. Besides, he liked Ole and felt a little
sorry about maybe taking Lily away from him…if he could even pretend like that.
“I agree she’s a nice girl. Pretty early in the morning for a conversation like
this, pal. And I’m on my way to an appointment. Spot you a coffee later?”
Ole plunged right on. “And good. She’s not going back
there with you, all alone, to stay at your place again.”
At this, Cam let out a chuckle. “I agree she’s not going
back there alone.” He watched Ole’s jaw muscles clench and held up a hand.
“It’s not what you think, man. I care about her safety, and it’s not safe out
there.”
The other man snorted as he breathed in. His mouth opened.
“I kin keep her safe.”
Cam nodded as if he agreed and said softly, “Or your
mother can.”
Ole’s apple cheeks turned an even darker shade of red,
while his expression became wounded.
“Just so we understand each other, brother,” Cam said. “I
trust you. Lily trusts you. We don’t trust anyone else.”
Cam swallowed and wiped his mouth as he watched Ole stride
away, each step like a league, until he disappeared around a corner. A hugely
smiling fox-faced Sven drove the snowplow past and honked.
They had to have been fraternal twins.
Ten seconds later, Matt moved his face from the computer
screen at the Freeman office to
notice Cam stood at his side. “Buddy! I gotta tell ya, this is the third most
exciting thing to happen in Barter Valley. Since I can remember, anyhoo. Take a
load off.”
Cam set his coat on the back of a chair and rubbed his
hands. “Third?”
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